Simple but effective teaching tips that give you higher impact instruction for ELL and ESL learners.
Each week, ESL Lifeline sends out short and simple teaching tips that promise to offer teachers something they can do in their classrooms that will help teaching and learning. Check out the past posts below to find the best fit for your classroom and learners.
Positive Reinforcement Spotlight
Recognizing Good Choices
Shine a light on positive behavior! Publicly acknowledge students who demonstrate desired behaviors throughout the day. This could be a simple verbal praise, a sticker or stamp on a chart, or a mention in a class newsletter. Positive reinforcement encourages students to repeat good choices and creates a more positive classroom environment.
Bonus Tip: Get creative with your positive reinforcement system! Allow students to choose rewards or create a class goal that they work towards together.
Need something to help you manage your students behavior in the classroom? Check out my Behavior Management Tracker, which allows you to track and manage student achievement and identify needs.
Turn Reading into a Movie
Reading with Storyboards
Engage visual learners by having them create storyboards as they read. Divide the passage into sections and have students sketch key scenes or plot points. This helps visualize the story, promotes comprehension, and can be used later for presentations or summarizing.
Bonus Tip: Challenge advanced students to add dialogue bubbles or captions to their storyboards for even deeper engagement.
Do you have students who can’t get enough of movies and film? ESL Lifeline has highly engaging instructional content for students who love to learn about movies and film.
Debate Club Goes Digital Practice
Online Discussions for Speaking
Create a safe online forum (like a class discussion board) where students can discuss a thought-provoking topic related to the lesson. This allows for asynchronous participation, encourages critical thinking, and provides a platform for quieter students to express themselves.
Bonus Tip: Set clear guidelines for respectful communication and online etiquette to ensure a positive discussion environment.
Need something to help you manage your students behavior in the classroom?
Interested in getting your students to set up a debate in class? You’ll love my How to Debate Materials and PowerPoint package for pulling off a memorable debate in your class.